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Oregon legislature passes bill strengthening state's gun laws

The Oregon legislature passed a bill Thursday banning anyone with a domestic violence conviction from owning a firearm, according to KOIN 6 local news station.

The state has banned those with domestic violence or stalking convictions from owning guns since 2015, but a loophole in the law allowed abusers who aren’t living with, married to or have children with the victim to have their guns, according to OregonLive.

The state’s House of Representatives passed the bill 37-23 last week — one day after the mass shooting at a Florida high school. The state Senate approved it 16-13 on Thursday.

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Oregon state Senators approved 16-13 a measure to strengthen the state’s gun laws by closing what’s called the “boyfriend loophole” sending the measure to Gov. Kate Brown for her signature. #orleg

Advocates for the new bill say that closing the loophole will protect women who could shot by abusive partners they are not married to.

"A person who assaults their boyfriend or girlfriend is no less guilty of domestic violence than someone who assaults their husband or wife," House Majority Leader Jennifer Williamson (D) told OregonLive.

The bill will now go to Gov. Kate Brown’s (D) desk, who has said the legislation is a major priority for her. She tweeted that she will sign the bill into law.

Closing the Intimate Partner Loophole was my top priority this session, and I look forward to signing #HB4145 into law. But more must be done, and we need Congress to pass meaningful gun legislation to keep our communities safer.